Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Program

CSSC is launching the Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Pilot Program, and we want YOU to apply to be a Field Organizer!

Summary:

As a coalition focused on holistic youth development and transforming institutional sustainability in California, the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) is launching the Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Program (FFSOP). The key focus of the FFSOP will be working alongside diverse coalition partners to develop the resources and training support necessary to strengthen youth involvement in local, regional and statewide campaigns and initiatives focused on strategic extreme energy resistance and growing translocal community-based resilience.

Apply to be a CSSC Field Organizer today!

CSSC is accepting applications for a temporary field organizer to support CSSC campaign staff in designing and implementing the Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Program between August and November, 2014. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Katie(at)sustainabilitycoalition(dot)org no later than 7pm on Sunday August 3, 2014.

Overview:

Since the spring of 2014, California youth have engaged in unprecedented organizing to strengthen resistance to extreme energy production in the Western United States. This summer, CSSC leaders worked alongside Peaceful Uprising and several grassroots community coalitions in Utah and Colorado to support the development the Summer of Climate Justice training camp. The training camp hosted 80 participants between July 18-22 at the first approved site of tar sands extraction in the U.S., many of whom were California youth active in fossil fuel divestment and anti-fracking campaigns on their campuses. The training program in Utah served as one of the first of its kind in the nation, as diverse facilitators provided in-depth trainings and workshops on climate justice and solidarity organizing. In particular, participants in the Utah camp learned how to identify and address interlocking systems of oppression such as colonialism, patriarchy, racism, and classism within current campaign-based organizing structures. This in depth week-long curriculum provided an introduction to the necessary educational work needed to advance new intersectional models for extreme energy resistance rooted in addressing historical injustices, as well as identifying and leveraging privilege as critical first steps to build solidarity and elevate the needs and voices of communities disproportionately impacted by the extractive economy.

Further, resisting tar sands production in Utah paralells important resistance work necessary in key locations across California as the state government and other public entities look to invest—financially and procedurally— in the expansion of extreme energy infrastructure development. Across CA, students and youth have mobilized around fossil fuel divestment on their campuses, and the growing Students Against Fracking Coalition is working with the Californians Against Fracking to push for a statewide ban on the extraction of shale and oil within the state through extreme methods like acidization and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). Youth have also started mobilizing alongside communities and community-based organizations at the local and regional level to block the import, transport, processing and shipment of crude oil, shale and other toxics within and beyond the states borders. To grow a more comprehensive vision for fossil freedom rooted in community resilience and justice, youth must grow our solidarity with each other across campaigns and campuses, and learn how to responsibly link-up and support off campuses communities involved in the struggle to transition our economy beyond fossil fuels.

Apply to be CSSCs Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizer Program Field Organizer by Sunday August 3 at 7pm!

In an effort to build upon CSSC fossil fuel related campaign work and that of the Summer of Climate Justice, CSSC campaign staff will work closely with a hired field organizer to research, develop and implement the Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Pilot Program between August and November. The Field Organizer will report to the Campaign Director, and uphold key responsibilities as defined below. This is a paid position, part-time position that requires 15.5 hours of work per week at a baseline pay of $16/hour; a travel stipend will also be provided as necessary. This position requires moderate local, regional, and statewide travel, as well as extensive use of a computer and telephone.

Key Competencies for Field Organizer Position:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Must have experience with Google document management, and Microsoft Products such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working with diverse constituencies is required
• Working knowledge of CSSC organizational structure, and structures of key campaigns CSSC operates: Fossil Fuel Divestment and Students Against Fracking
• At least 6 months of youth campaign coordination experience required, preferably a year.
• Direct action training and experience is preferred but not required
• Off campus community engagement experience is preferred, but not required
• Intermediate experience and familiarity with principles of Environmental and Climate Justice and/or collective liberation/ Anti-Oppression frameworks is required.
• Experience developing educational curriculum, facilitating meetings and conference calls is preferred, but not required
• This position also requires moderate travel, so the ability to drive and/or easily navigate local, regional and statewide transit systems is necessary

Key Field Organizer Responsibilities:

• Work with Campaign Director and other key staff and volunteers to design and implement Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing programming at regional and statewide levels, integrating key educational elements from Summer of Climate Justice Organizing camp in Utah
• Develop communications system and survey for California youth who participated in Summer of Climate Justice Program in Utah
• Communicate and coordinate program with key statewide and national coalition partners to further design and develop procedures that integrate Fossil Freedom Solidarity Organizing Program vision with local, regional, statewide and national campaign and programmatic efforts (key partners include, but are not limited to, Californians Against Fracking Coalition, Peaceful Uprising, Energy Action Coalition, Fossil Free UC, and Forest Ethics).
• Survey and maintain records of existing and potential community-based coalition partnerships that align with existing and potential campus-based campaigns focused on blocking or divesting from extreme energy production
• Work with Campaign Director and key staff to develop system for tracking needs of community based organizations working on extreme energy production resistance in CA. Determine potential areas for synergy and programmatic development in collaboration with community-based partners and Environmental Justice oriented organizations
• Support Campaign Director with logistics and CSSC delegate program coordination for September 8^th climate symposium in Sacramento
• Support Campaign Director and other key staff with Fossil Free and Students Against Fracking integration into Fossil Free Solidarity Organizing programming development
• Work with Campaign Director and key staff to derive system of metrics for measuring success of program implementation
• Work with Campaign Director and key staff to derive system for participant and coalition-member feedback on program strengths, weaknesses, opportunities related to program
• Maintain records on program logistics, communication, outreach and any survey results from collaborators and participants in programming
• Work with CSSC governing bodies to integrate successful programming themes into CSSC Fall Convergence and Winter Leadership Retreat
• Work with Campaign Director and specific volunteers to facilitate trainings and/or regional meet-ups related to programming as necessary in key locations across the state
• Convene conference calls and/or in person meetings to provide student support for programmatic implementation as necessary

**CSSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity and do not discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, creed, gender, ethnicity, or any identity.